Of these Merriwell was the leader, and it was agreed that every effort must be made to “take the starch” out of him.  That Browning intended to “do” Merriwell was well known, but some of the others proposed to get at him.

“Wait,” advised Bruce—­“wait till I have had it out with that fellow.  Then you may do whatever you like with him.  But I feel it a solemn duty to settle our little affair before anybody else tackles him.”

The freshmen were getting their ball team in condition for the coming season, and they were practicing as often as possible.  Frank was interested in the team, and it was said by those who watched him that he seemed to have the making of a pitcher in him.  He had sharp curves and good control.  If he had a head, they said, he was all right.  But this was something that could not be decided till he had been tried in a game.

Another freshman by the name of Walter Gordon seemed certain to be the regular pitcher of the team.  He had a record, as he had shown, while Merriwell would say nothing about what he had done in the way of pitching.

The students had found it extremely difficult to find out much about Merriwell, as he persistently avoided talking about himself.  If he had been one of the kind of fellows who go around and brag about themselves and what they have done he would not have aroused so much interest; but the very fact that he would not talk of himself made the students curious to know something of his history.

In a vague sort of way it became known that although he lived in simple style, like any freshman whose parents were not wealthy, he had a fortune in his own right and had traveled extensively in various parts of the world.

Frank’s silence seemed to cast an air of mystery about him, and that air of mystery made him all the more interesting, for the human mind is ever curious to peer into anything that has the flavor of a secret.

The sophomores had been rushed by the freshmen, and they resolved to retaliate in a similar manner.  On Saturday afternoons the freshmen ball team practiced, and Saturday was at hand.  It would be an opportune time to meet the youngsters and make it warm for them.

The affair was carefully planned, but wind of it reached the freshmen.  As a result, the youngsters prepared for what they knew must take place.  There could be no such thing as avoiding it, so when Saturday noon came they dressed themselves in their old clothes and started for the park, going out as much as possible in a body.

When the park was reached it was found that the sophomores were there ahead of them.  More than that, the sophs had closed and fastened the gate, and they proposed to hold it.  They taunted the freshmen, and told them they would have to climb the fence if they hoped to get into the park.

Then there was a consultation among the freshmen.  “We’ll have to make a rush,” was the universal decision.